Eugenia Charles

Dame Mary Eugenia Charles, DBE ( born May 15, 1919 in Pointe Michel, † September 6, 2005 in Fort- de -France, Martinique ) was the first Prime Minister of Dominica and the first female head of government in the Caribbean region.

Mary Eugenia Charles began her political career in the 1960s as a dedicated Friedensbefürworterin and one of the founders of the Dominica Freedom Party, the moderator from the early 1970s until 1995. It was in 1970 elected to the dominica African Parliament, five years later, she was opposition leader. On July 21, 1980 almost two years after independence from Great Britain was declared, Eugenia Charles was elected Prime Minister of Dominica. By 1995, they led in this office the business of government of the island nation. From 1980 to 1990 she also headed the Foreign Ministry.

As chairman of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in 1983, she supported the occupation of Grenada by U.S. troops after the assassination of the Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop.

Eugenia Charles was appointed in 1992 for their political benefits to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE ). On 14 June 1995, shortly after her 76th birthday, she retired from politics. On 6 September 2005 Eugenia Charles died in Martinique after hip surgery.